A shallow water bowl should be provided at all times for soaking. If the clump disintegrates in your hand, it may need a little more water if water oozes out when squeezed, you may need to let it dry out a bit. A handful of the substrate should clump when the appropriate level of moisture has been attained. The substrate should be kept somewhat damp in order to prevent dessication. A mix of sand, vermiculite and ground coconut husk or potting soil works best. A substrate that allows American toads the possibility of burrowing is also a good idea for the successful maintenance of this species.
Although it is unlikely that this species would be able to escape from an enclosure of this size, it is a good idea to provide a tight fitting screen lid to allow for ventilation and the prevent the intrusion of other pets. A pair can be maintained in a standard 10 gallon aquarium so long as they are of equal size. Both subspecies are very easy to keep and are not hard to find either in the wild or at a pet store, and require the same care.Īs with most Bufonid species, a low aquarium with ample floor space works well. The dwarf subspecies rarely ever grows over two inches long, while the main species will measure up to four inches long. They are both completely identical except for their adult size. There are two separate subspecies of American toads. Their backs are covered in brown and black pebble-like growths or "warts", and their undersides are almost always a light tan color. They can be a number of colors, ranging from light tan to brown-red to a dark olive-green. Habitat: Occurs primarily in forest and prairie habitats, in both rural and urban areas near a semi-permanent water source.Īmerican toads are one of the most common amphibians in the northern United States and Canada. Range: Primarily in the northeastern US, ranging westward to the eastern edge of the Dakotas and southward to the northern areas of the Gulf Coast states.